Sarries flyhalf Glen Jackson joins Leinster....

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

....so says the Sunday Tribune. If true, Leinster's transfer dealings for next season appear to be like this:

In
Glen Jackson
Eoin Reddan
Mike Ross
Ciaran Ruddock

Out
Felipe Contepomi
Chris Whitaker
Stan Wright
Felix Jones

Staying
Rocky Elsom

Leinster are constantly told that they have too many non-Irish qualified players on their books. The above transfer dealings would reduce the number of NIQs by 2 (or maybe 3 since Jackson may be Ireland qualified through his wife and past residency).

Also, in an interview earlier today Michael Chieka was talking about the flyhalf situation next season. He said that he wanted to bring in somebody to compliment Jonny Sexton. The significance of that is that he doesn't mention Isa Nacewa as a possible 10 next year.

 

[An Tarbh]

not bowled over by this signing but I'll give him a chance, if the soundings from Cheika are correct than it's good to here he's been signed to complement Sexton, which presumably means he's not going to Perpignan.

 

[Sir Speedy]

I think that's a very good signing. Not much of a running flyhalf but he's reliable with the boot.

And he's likely to win you a match in injury-time by kicking 'cross-field to Shane Horgan who'll proceed to score under the posts.
What a legend.
Yeh, not quite Contepomi, but an adequate replacement no less.

 

[monkeypigeon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Mar 29 2009, 01:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Leinster are constantly told that they have too many non-Irish qualified players on their books. The above transfer dealings would reduce the number of NIQs by 2 (or maybe 3 since Jackson may be Ireland qualified through his wife and past residency).

Also, in an interview earlier today Michael Chieka was talking about the flyhalf situation next season. He said that he wanted to bring in somebody to compliment Jonny Sexton. The significance of that is that he doesn't mention Isa Nacewa as a possible 10 next year.[/b]

Well seeing as he's gonna be 34 when he's playing for Leinster I don't think it makes a blind bit of diference whether he'll ever qualify Irish or not and it really does sound like Sexton will be number one 10 next year. Which is good stuff.

In other news....Sunday Times Sports section says that 6 Nations, Canada, Argentina, and South Africa are gonna gang up on the IRB, Australia and New Zealand and kick most of the daft ELVs out the door! YAY!!!

 

[An Tarbh]

think it's more to do with being able to bring in another foreigner if Jackson is Irish qualified, don't think there's any issue with him ever playing for Ireland.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 29 2009, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

think it's more to do with being able to bring in another foreigner if Jackson is Irish qualified, don't think there's any issue with him ever playing for Ireland.[/b]

Yeah, I should have been clearer. Jackson won't ever play for Ireland but if he's qualified to play for Declan Kidney's team it means that Leinster can conceivably bring in another NIQ player. The same goes for Cameron Jowitt.

If Jackson is being brought in I think it's as backup for Sexton in case Sexton's kicking doesn't hold up. If Sexton's form does hold up, Jackson will play whenever the Mary's club man is on international duty. He'd be an excellent signing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

which presumably means he's not going to Perpignan.[/b]

Sexton said in an interview about a week ago that he signed a new 2 year deal with Leinster.

 

[An Tarbh]

good to know then, you miss these little things when you're not there on the ground, not exactly a breaking news story on l'équipe or rugbyrama

 

[Prestwick]

To clarify, Jackson is actually English qualified through residency much in the same way Riki Flutey was.

Jackson is a good and reliable kicker and usually his kicking from hand is spot on although he does have a tendency to kick a cross field kick into a force twenty gale five minutes into stoppage time but surprisingly when he does this, he usually pulls it off.

A good signing but Leinster would have been much more better off getting him two or so seasons ago. Now he's getting to the end of his career.

EDIT: The fact that he has been top points scorer in the Guiness Premiership in the last four or five seasons alone should be testament to his quality at kicking.

One thing is that somethings he can be liable to telegraphing passes resulting in dodgy intercepts. I've seen him do this multiple times, sometimes in the same game.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Mar 29 2009, 08:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

To clarify, Jackson is actually English qualified through residency much in the same way Riki Flutey was.

Jackson is a good and reliable kicker and usually his kicking from hand is spot on although he does have a tendency to kick a cross field kick into a force twenty gale five minutes into stoppage time but surprisingly when he does this, he usually pulls it off.

A good signing but Leinster would have been much more better off getting him two or so seasons ago. Now he's getting to the end of his career.

EDIT: The fact that he has been top points scorer in the Guiness Premiership in the last four or five seasons alone should be testament to his quality at kicking.

One thing is that somethings he can be liable to telegraphing passes resulting in dodgy intercepts. I've seen him do this multiple times, sometimes in the same game.[/b]

That's a fair assessment of Jackson. Unless I'm mistaken his wife is Irish which could get him a passport but I'm open to correction. Early in his career he also played for a Munster club; Highfield unless I'm mistaken. I'm unsure whether or not he played there for three years which would instantly qualify him for the Ireland team.

 

[Prestwick]

To be fair, it is the EU and he can quite easily swap residency so he can be Irish...

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Mar 29 2009, 08:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

To be fair, it is the EU and he can quite easily swap residency so he can be Irish...[/b]

The reason it's important for Leinster that he be "Irish" is that the IRFU have reportedly imposed an unofficial quota of 5 non-Irish qualified players. If Jackson isn't considered as Ireland qualified, it counts against that total.

Here's the story for those who are interested:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/rugby/article/...n-for-leinster/

Out-half Jackson set to sign for Leinster

Leinster look set to sign the Saracens New Zealand out-half Glen Jackson, as the province attempts to fill the void created by Felipe Contepomi's departure to Toulon at the end of the season, writes Mark Jones.
An outstanding place kicker, formerly of the Waikato Chiefs and Bay of Plenty, Jackson joined Saracens in 2004 and is currently the London club's all-time leading points scorer.

Given that he turns 34 in October, Leinster probably see Jackson as cover for Jonathan Sexton. However, his form in the past couple of seasons suggests that he is likely to challenge for a starting place.

Leinster are also believed to be in negotiations with the Wasps and Ireland scrum-half, Eoin Reddan, but yesterday, neither the province nor the London club were prepared to comment on any player movement.[/b]

 

[An Tarbh]

is it actually legal for them to do that if he has an EU passport, surely EU players couldn't be included in such a ruling.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 29 2009, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

is it actually legal for them to do that if he has an EU passport, surely EU players couldn't be included in such a ruling.[/b]

It's not legal so if the provinces wanted to force the IRFUs hand, they could. Since the IRFU effectively pays the wages, the provinces don't rock the boat too much.

As things stand there's an unofficial quota of 3 top clas NIQs and 3 lower standard NIQs. Leinster apparently wanted the Union to relax the dictat so that they could have 6 top class NIQs in their squad. The other provinces wanted a 4/2 split of top class/lesser standard NIQs. A compromise of 5 NIQs of any standard was reached.

 

[gingergenius]

Jackson was also an unfortunate Chiefs fullback made to look very silly by Rupeni.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Mar 29 2009, 10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 29 2009, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

is it actually legal for them to do that if he has an EU passport, surely EU players couldn't be included in such a ruling.[/b]

It's not legal so if the provinces wanted to force the IRFUs hand, they could. Since the IRFU effectively pays the wages, the provinces don't rock the boat too much.

As things stand there's an unofficial quota of 3 top clas NIQs and 3 lower standard NIQs. Leinster apparently wanted the Union to relax the dictat so that they could have 6 top class NIQs in their squad. The other provinces wanted a 4/2 split of top class/lesser standard NIQs. A compromise of 5 NIQs of any standard was reached.
[/b][/quote]

to be honest I agree with it as it's in the interests of the national team that the provinces aren't overrun with non qualified imports but it's always dicey when the EU comes into play.

 

[shazbooger]

Ahhh you cant legislate to discriminate (unless your in South Africa) but the reality of rugby transfer dealings are different to normal recruitment processes.

Leinster would never release an add for a vacancy at prop, and ask for open invitations to apply, so they automatically control who and when they recruit whatever players they want. Allowing them to maintain their quota's of home grown players.